Thea,lover of whole and broken hearts,you are witness to the last breathof the suicide victim.Abide with thosethe victim leaves behind;offer them your silent presencein the victim's ringing absence.Amen.

Does God take sides?Does God cheer for Israel's victories, or cheer for Israel's losses?Does God pump his fist when Palestine succeeds,or weep when Palestine stumbles?Is God on the sidelines of Gaza, rooting for his team to win?If God were mere manperhaps the Gaza Strip would be one great football fieldand God's whole life would rise and fall according to the victory of his team.The Christians sayGod became flesh and dwelt among usThey say God became mere man.They also say the God-Man's great victory was accepting death on a crossthat others might live.But if Israel and Palestine's men keep taking one another's livesin God's namewho will be left to bear his cross?Perhaps the Second Coming that the Christians await with bated breath(as smart phones offer updates about their team)will be another Incarnation,a child born in the midst of blood and turmoil and rage.Maybe the Second Comingwill bea child born of love spilling overbetween a child of Israel and a child of PalestineMaybe, instead of a crossthere will be a standsilent and gentle and unwaveringPalestinian hand in Israeli handthe fruit of their living bodiesGod's own child, swelling the mother's belly:an invitation to end life no more.What will it take for the beloved children of Godto perceive that the people they murder are the beloved children of Godto understand that the people they hateare their sisters and brothers and fathers and mothersand daughters and sons?What will it take for Jews and Muslimsand Christiansand other religious peopleand anti-religious peopleto quit takingsidesto say"It is done"?Will it take a new Yeshua?A new martyr?A new cross?Will it take a wise mother among many wise motherswho learned long ago that only love can yield a victory?Will it take a woman among many womenwho has seen the futility of this fight all her lifeto rise up and teach the foolish men what they refuse to learn?God, how long before you touch the heartsof the children who think you take sides?How long before you assure them that they are equally,infinitely loved?How long before they cease their fireand offer open arms ofsorrow, repentance, forgiveness?What do you mean to whisper thatthis assurancethis peacethis lovethis transformation of the hardest of hearts in Gazabeginswith my own heart?